MULTI-FUNCTION IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A multi-function image processing apparatus includes a system control unit that receives an image processing job sent over a network by a requesting device, and that controls operation of the image processing apparatus. The apparatus includes an image recording unit that performs a printing operation. The apparatus also includes a scanner that scans data provided to the apparatus. The apparatus further includes an image processing unit that receives scan data from the scanner, that performs image processing on the scan data, and that outputs image-processed scan data to the image recording unit for printing of the image-processed scan data. The apparatus also includes an interface unit that transfers image data between the image processing unit and the system control unit in at least one mode of operation of the image processing apparatus. The image processing unit includes a first FIFO and a second FIFO for bypassing the interface unit under certain situations.

2009-01-29

20090027714

JOB STARTUP CONTROL FOR JOB QUEUING - In a printing method and system, segments of a print job are distributed to respective downstream processors. Remaining print jobs of a stream are sequestered. The distributed segments are processed to provide respective printable frames that are supplied to respective printheads. The processing in different downstream processors is asynchronous and dependent upon content. A frame completion signal is transmitted from each downstream processors, immediately after the respective processing. The printable frames are printed on a receiver to provide a printed output having one or more documents, each document having respective printable frames in registry. The sequestering of a next print job is released following and responsive to the transmitting of the frame completion signals from all of the downstream processors.

2009-01-29

20090027715

FAST JOB HALT IN A HIGH SPEED PRESS - In a printing system and method, job data is distributed in segments to a plurality of downstream processors. The segments are processed in respective downstream processors to provide printable frames, which are stored in respective print queues that each supply one of a plurality of printheads. Printing is initiated. Prior to completion of the printing, a job halt request is received. Disable commands are transmitted to the downstream processors responsive to the job halt request. Acknowledgements of respective disable commands are sent from the downstream processors. The downstream processors are grouped following the sending of respective acknowledgements. The print queues are emptied using the grouped, multi-tasking downstream processors.

2009-01-29

20090027716

MULTI-HEAD PRESS DATA DELIVERY RATE CONTROL - In a printing method and systems, segments of a first print job are distributed to respective downstream processors and are processed to provide printable frames, which are stored in respective print queues. Each print queue supplies a respective one or more printheads. The printable frames are sequentially printed on a continuously transported receiver. A maximum printing duration of each of the print queues is computed periodically during the printing. The transport speed is regulated to trend the maximum printing durations toward a predetermined baseline. The sending of a second print job to the downstream processors is delayed, while processing of the first print job is completed. The delaying is counter to the regulating and reduces the print queues of the first print job non-uniformly relative to the baseline.

2009-01-29

20090027717

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING IMAGES AMONG SPECTRUM AGILE RADIO DEVICES WITHOUT RETRANSMITTING IMAGES - A system and method for transferring images among spectrum agile radio devices without the need to retransmit image data. The system and method of the invention encodes and transmits packets so as to permit the efficient recovery of image data that is lost during transmission without the need to retransmit the packets. Instead of encoding packets containing adjacent pixels and transmitting them line-by-line, the system and method of the present invention encodes and transmits packets containing pixels from non-adjacent areas of a frame. As a result, any losses that occur within an individual packet are distributed throughout the image rather than in a specific line or isolated region of the image. This permits the efficient recovery of image data that is lost during transmission without the need to retransmit the data.

2009-01-29

20090027718

WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A workflow management system capable of directly capturing image information transmitted by a facsimile machine is disclosed. The workflow management system includes an object identifying unit identifying an object to be associated with image information received by a facsimile machine, the object being defined in the workflow management system; and a related document registering unit associating the image information with the identified object, and registering the image information associated with the identified object.

2009-01-29

20090027719

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH MULTIPLE HOST DEVICES - A method and an apparatus for connecting an image forming apparatus with multiple host devices. The method includes: displaying a user interface in which the image forming apparatus and the host devices are arranged; setting an area in the user interface in which the host devices are to be connected to the image forming apparatus; and connecting host devices positioned in the set area to the image forming apparatus.

2009-01-29

20090027720

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is supplied enabling print request user to identify whether the requested print data needs an approval or not so as to judge how to treat the corresponding print matter. In the image forming apparatus, an approval request portion sends an approval request electronic mail for requesting an approval of print allowance about an input image to an approval person terminal; an approval allowance/disallowance judging portion judges whether the print allowance is approved or not on the basis of a reply electronic mail output from the approval person terminal; if the print allowance is approved, an image compounding portion compounds an approval image onto the input image.

2009-01-29

20090027721

MULTI FUNCTION PERIPHERAL AND METHOD THERFOR - A multi function peripheral with a plurality of functions includes a function selecting unit accepting therethrough an input to select a function to be executed from the plurality of functions, a display unit displaying thereon an information screen showing information on the function selected through the function selecting unit, and a display control unit controlling the display unit to, each time a function is selected through the function selecting unit, display thereon a first information screen showing information on the selected function. When a second information screen showing information on a function in execution has been displayed on the display unit, the display control unit controls the display unit to display thereon the first information screen concurrently with the second information screen.

2009-01-29

20090027722

Image forming apparatus - In an image forming apparatus to which a user can login, a management unit that manages login information of a user, a storage unit that stores print data of a print job received from an external device, and a control unit are provided. When a print job is introduced from the external device while the control unit recognizes a state of a user being logged in the login management unit, the control unit temporarily stores the print data of the print job received from the external device in the storage unit and then when the control unit detects a logout with the termination of the login state in the login management unit, starts printing of the print job that is received from the external device and stored in the storage unit.

2009-01-29

20090027723

Printing apparatus - A printing apparatus is supplied, capable of continuing print process by switching to other PDL automatically when error occurs in PDL process execution. In the printing apparatus, an interpreting and making section interprets print data on the basis of language format and makes output use data; a detecting section detects an occurrence of error in the interpreting and making section; a priority order information storing section previously stores priority order information representing a priority order to correspond to each language format information; a reading and selecting section reads out the corresponding priority order information on the basis of the language format information, and selects a change language format on the basis of the priority order information; a changing section changes the print data and the language format information into change print data and change language format information; and a controlling section controls the interpreting and making section to execute an interpretation of the change print data and a making of output use data based on the change language format.

2009-01-29

20090027724

Data processing method, data management device, and information processing device - In a data processing method for a data processing system including an apparatus having a storing unit for storing data, and an information processing device for performing data processing in accordance with a predetermined procedure are interconnected via a network, it is detected whether a processing object data, which is an object of data processing to be performed by the information processing device, is stored in a predetermined storage area of the storing unit of the apparatus. A request of data processing of the processing object data is transmitted from the apparatus to the information processing device based on a result of the detection. Data processing to the processing object data is performed in response to the request received from the apparatus.

2009-01-29

20090027725

NETWORK APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A network apparatus which is detachable from a data processing apparatus and is mounted in the data processing apparatus to connect the data processing apparatus and a network installs an application and stores authentication information corresponding to the application in the storage of the network apparatus. The network apparatus acquires authentication information corresponding to the application from the storage of the network apparatus and the data processing apparatus in accordance with an application activation request. The network apparatus determines, on the basis of the acquired authentication information, whether to permit activation of the application.

2009-01-29

20090027726

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A image processing apparatus including a log setting module that sets a log recording setting corresponding to each of a plurality of processes executed at the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus also includes a memory for storing the log recording setting, and a module that determines, based on the log recording setting, whether log information should be recorded.

Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for modifying printing based upon direct on-the-fly media characteristic parameters - A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for modifying printing based upon direct on-the-fly media characteristic parameters is disclosed. The present invention on-the-fly directly measures a media characteristic parameter and performs real-time print modification in response thereto. The measured characteristic parameters include paper texture and composition, as well as adhesion and penetration of print. The modification of print in response to these measured parameters may allow a customer to maintain observed print quality with lower-cost materials. Adjustments may include the addition of coating, hot rolling, or adjustment of toner concentration. Measured parameters may include mottle, paper texture, and bleed through.

2009-01-29

20090027730

Halftone independent correction of spatial non-uniformities - A method and apparatus are provided for compensating for spatial non-uniformities in a printer by deriving a true spatial non-uniformity tone response curve (TRC) that characterizes the printer in terms of color output variation for each addressable pixel location in a spatial range. In a one-time offline process, the “true average” tone response curve is determined for a color channel and stored. The “true average” tone response curve defines an average true response for the printer across the printed output spatial range. A prediction of the true response as a function of the spatial location is derived by printing and scanning a specially designed halftone-independent target of binary patterns. The predicted tone response curve for each color channel and halftone is predicted using a binary printer model and stored, wherein the “predicted tone response curve” provides a model based approximation of the actual response for the printer for each addressable pixel location in the spatial range. Also stored is an “average predicted tone response” by averaging the “predicted tone response curve” over the spatial range of the printer. With the “true average” tone response curve, the “predicted tone response curve”, and the “average predicted tone response curve”, an estimate of the true tone response curve for the color channel can then be mathematically obtained, wherein the true tone response curve defines a predicted actual response for the printer for each addressable print location in the spatial range. The “predicted” and “average” tone response curves are obtained using the 2×2 binary printer model.

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus comprising an image quality control unit configured to execute a plurality of image quality control processing operations, a type determination unit configured to determine an image type among a plurality of image types in accordance with a feature of an image, and a selection screen generation unit configured to generate a selection screen used to select one of the plurality of image quality control processing operations to be performed on the image in accordance with the determined image type.

SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY READING MULTIPLE FORMS - An optical reader with a single optical assembly that receives images from at least two different environments. For example, one environment may be constructed in a first chamber into which a document or bulk item with a bar code may be placed. The other environment may be constructed in a second chamber with an active drive mechanism that transports a document with optical readable markings to a reading location. The environments may be separated by a baffle that prevents light from leaking between the environments, and the electronics and software are constructed to read and decode information that is found in the images from both environments either sequentially or simultaneously.

2009-01-29

20090027735

Shutter structure for light scanning unit and image forming apparatus using the same - A shutter structure for a light scanning unit, which is used in the light scanning unit that scans a photosensitive medium of a developing unit with a beam deflected by a beam deflector accommodated in a housing having an emission window, and selectively blocks the beam directed at the emission window, and an image forming apparatus using the same. The shutter structure includes a shutter that is rotatably provided outside the housing and selectively blocks the beam directed at the emission window, a joining unit that is formed at corresponding positions of the shutter and the housing so that the shutter is rotatably joined with the housing, and a push member that pushes the shutter so that the shutter is rotated in a direction in which the emission window is opened.

2009-01-29

20090027736

PORTABLE SCANNER DEVICE FOR METALLURGICAL, NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING - A portable, self-contained scanner device for metallurgical, nondestructive testing is provided. The portable, self-contained scanner device includes a chassis having wheels extending beneath a lower surface thereof, a nondestructive testing probe detachably fixed to the chassis, and a computer processor device coupled to the chassis. The computer processor device includes applications executable by the computer processor device for performing the metallurgical, nondestructive testing on a test subject. The scanner device also includes a display device that displays images in response to the metallurgical, nondestructive testing. The chassis, computer processor device, and display device move along the test subject as a single unit.

2009-01-29

20090027737

METHOD FOR CORRECTING AN OVERLAP REGION AND SCANNING DEVICE - The present scanning device and related method relate to reversibly positioning markers in respective overlapping areas, where the markers are arranged in the scanning device. A control device makes x-y-position correction of a camera on the basis of a known position and a known outline of the markers. The markers are deviated and displaced from a neutral position outside scanning areas of the camera into the overlapping areas.

2009-01-29

20090027738

IMAGE READING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An image reading device and an image forming apparatus having the same, that can prevent unnecessary wear of components or damage of a document when a simplex scanning operation is carried out. The image reading device includes a first reading unit and a second reading unit. The first reading unit includes a first scan unit to scan a first surface of a document, a first press member mounted while opposing the first scan unit, and a first elastic member to bias the first scan unit or the first press member to closely contact the document with the first scan unit. The second reading unit includes a second scan unit to scan a second surface of the document, a second press member mounted while opposing the second scan unit, and a second elastic member to bias the second scan unit or the second press member to closely contact the document with the second scan unit. The second scan unit and the second press member are separated from each other by a lifting device. The first elastic member to bias the first scan unit or the first press member has an elastic force different from an elastic force of the second elastic member to bias the second scan unit or the second press member.

2009-01-29

20090027739

Image sensor - An image sensor includes an elongated case, a light source provided in the case, a light guiding member elongated in a longitudinal direction of the case and configured to direct light emitted from the light source toward a document to be read, an optical system for collecting light reflected by the document, a sensor IC chip for receiving the light collected by the optical system, and a substrate attached to the case. The substrate is provided with a wiring pattern and carries the sensor IC chip. The case is provided with a plurality of supporting projections spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. The supporting projections are held in contact with the side surface of the light guiding member.

2009-01-29

20090027740

READ DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A transfer member to transfer a document at different transfer speeds according to transfer sections of a document transfer path includes a first transfer roller and a second transfer roller, both of which are respectively mounted at upstream and downstream sides of the document transfer path, and a driving unit to drive the first and second transfer rollers such that the speed of the second transfer roller is higher than that of the first transfer roller under the control of a control unit is further included. The control unit reads an image pattern on a test document using a read device, acquires speed compensation information to compensate for a transfer speed of the transfer member, and controls an operation of the transfer member according to the speed compensation information at the time of transferring the document.

2009-01-29

20090027741

INITIALIZING AN IMAGE SCANNER - In a method for initializing an image scanner having a scanning module and an automatic document feed (ADF) glass, the scanning module is moved in a forward direction toward the ADF glass to search for a reference mark located within a relatively close proximity to the ADF glass. The scanning module is moved forward to search for a black-white transition in response to the reference mark being located and the scanning module is moved in a backward direction away from the ADF glass in response to the black-white transition being located. The scanning module is stopped when the image sensor of the scanning module is aligned with an origin mark to thereby accurately position the scanning module.

2009-01-29

20090027742

IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image reading apparatus to automatically determine whether first and second reading units, which are opposed to each other with a document interposed therebetween, are normally operated and a method of controlling the same includes a duplex path to guide the document, which is read by the first reading unit and the second reading unit, to be transported to the first reading unit and the second reading unit again in a state in which the first side and the second side of the document are reversed. The document is subjected to a primary reading operation using the first reading unit and the second reading unit, and the document, which was subjected to the primary reading operation, is then guided via the duplex path and passes through the first reading unit and the second reading unit. At this time, the document is subjected to a secondary reading operation using the first reading unit and the second reading unit, and a control unit compares image information obtained by the first reading unit and the second reading unit in the primary reading operation with image information obtained by the first reading unit and the second reading unit in the secondary reading operation. The control unit also determines whether the first reading unit and the second reading unit are normally operated.

2009-01-29

20090027743

IMAGE READING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An image reading device and an image forming apparatus having the same that can increase a scan quality by improving mounting positions of units to read information recorded on a document and a mounting structure of a light shielding member. The image reading device may include a first reading unit to read image information recorded on a first surface of a document, a second reading unit disposed at a predetermined distance from the first reading unit along a document feeding direction to read image information recorded on a second surface of the document, and at least one light shielding member mounted between the first reading unit and the second reading unit along the document feeding direction. The light shielding member may extend in a direction different from the document feeding direction such that one end portion is located in a document feeding path. The light shielding member may be provided with a document guide portion to guide the document.

2009-01-29

20090027744

IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image reading apparatus capable of changing a main reading unit at an appropriate time point such that a plurality of reading units can be equally used, and a method of controlling the same. The image reading apparatus includes an automatic document feeder, a first reading unit to read a first side of a document fed by the automatic document feeder and to function as a main reading unit, a second reading unit to read a second side of the document fed by the automatic document feeder; and a control unit to change the main reading unit from the first reading unit to the second reading unit if the number of times L

2009-01-29

20090027745

IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image reading apparatus to prevent reading quality from deteriorating when two reading units respectively read a first side and a second side of a document with different capabilities, and a method of controlling the same includes an automatic document feeder to feed a document, a first reading unit to read a first side of the document fed by the automatic document feeder, and a second reading unit to read a second side of the document fed by the automatic document feeder. A control unit to control an operation of the image reading apparatus determines at least one of the first reading unit and the second reading unit as a reference reading unit in a both-side reading mode in which both sides of the document are read and controls a transport speed of the document such that the document is transported at a speed to allow the reference reading unit to read the document.

2009-01-29

20090027746

CONVERSION TABLE CREATING DEVICE, STORAGE MEDIUM STORING CONVERSION TABLE CREATING PROGRAM, AND CONVERSION TABLE CREATING METHOD - Each of a plurality of polyhedron spaces is defined by a plurality of first vertices. Bach of the plurality of first vertices is defined by a plurality of sets of third color data that are defined in the second color space. A color data setting unit sets a plurality of sets of fourth color data that are defined in a first color space in one to one correspondence with the plurality of third color data sets. A second dividing unit divides each of a plurality of polyhedron spaces into a plurality of smaller polyhedron spaces by a division number set for the each polyhedron spaces. Each of the plurality of smaller polyhedron spaces is defined by a plurality of second vertices and the plurality of first vertices. Each of the plurality of second vertices is defined by a plurality of sets of fifth color data defined in the second color space. An interpolation calculation unit calculates a plurality of sets of sixth color data that are defined in the first color space in one to one correspondence with the plurality of second vertices by interpolating the plurality of the fourth color data sets. A conversion table creating unit creates a conversion table based on the fourth color data sets and the sixth color data sets and on the third color data sets and the fifth color data sets.

2009-01-29

20090027747

HOLOGRAPHIC MICROSCOPY OF HOLOGRAPHICALLY TRAPPED THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURES - A method and system for performing three-dimensional holographic microscopy of an optically trapped structure. The method and system use an inverted optical microscope, a laser source which generates a trapping laser beam wherein the laser beam is focused by an objective lens into a plurality of optical traps. The method and system also use a collimated laser at an imaging wavelength to illuminate the structure created by the optical traps. Imaging light scattered by the optically tapped structure forms holograms that are imaged by a video camera and analyzed by optical formalisms to determine light field to reconstruct 3-D images for analysis and evaluation.

2009-01-29

20090027748

MEMS Oscillator Having A Combined Drive Coil - A MEMS oscillator, such as a MEMS scanner, has an improved and simplified drive scheme and structure. Drive impulses may be transmitted to an oscillating mass via torque through the support arms. For multi-axis oscillators drive signals for two or more axes may be superimposed by a driver circuit and transmitted to the MEMS oscillator. The oscillator responds in each axis according to its resonance frequency in that axis. The oscillator may be driven resonantly in some or all axes. Improved load distribution results in reduced deformation. A simplified structure offers multi-axis oscillation using a single moving body. Another structure directly drives a plurality of moving bodies. Another structure eliminates actuators from one or more moving bodies, those bodies being driven by their support arms.

2009-01-29

20090027749

HIGH RESOLUTION DIGITAL OPTICAL ENCODER/DECODER - A programmable encoder is provided that includes at least one optical input for receiving a modulated broadband optical signal and at least one optical output. A dispersion element receives the optical signal from the optical input and spatially separates the optical signal into a plurality of wavelength components. A collimating element is provided for collimating the plurality of wavelength components. An actuatable optical arrangement receives the collimated plurality of wavelength components from the collimating element. The actuatable optical arrangement includes a digital micromirror device (DMD) from which a programmably selected subset of wavelength components are reflected at least twice before being directed to a selected one of optical outputs to thereby encode the CDMA signal.

2009-01-29

20090027750

Optical Swiveling Device - An optical swiveling device is specified for imaging and/or projection of an object scene, having a supporting structure, having a detection/transmission unit arranged in the supporting structure, having a pitch frame and having a roll frame, with the pitch frame being mounted in the roll frame such that it can rotate about a pitch axis and with the roll frame being mounted in the supporting structure such that it can rotate about a roll axis. In this case the pitch axis and the roll axis intersect at an intersection angle of less than 90°. First deflection optics are arranged in the pitch frame such that a beam propagating along the pitch axis is deflected in an object-side direction which intersects the pitch axis at the intersection angle, and vice versa, and second deflection optics are arranged in the roll frame such that a beam propagating along the pitch axis is deflected in the direction along the roll axis, and vice versa.

PROJECTION DISPLAY APPARATUS FOR REMOVING NOISE - A projection type of display apparatus for removing a noise is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the projection type of display apparatus includes: a light source; an optical board, incidenting a beam of light emitted from the light source; and an optical modulator, being fixed on one surface of the optical board and modulating and emitting the beam of light that passed through the optical board. The blocking layer is formed on the optical board. With the present invention, it is possible to remove the noise of the image and display the image more clearly by enhancing the contrast.

2009-01-29

20090027753

BEAM SHAPING PRIOR TO HARMONIC GENERATION FOR INCREASED STABILITY OF LASER BEAM SHAPING POST HARMONIC GENERATION WITH INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC DISPLACEMENT AND THERMAL BEAM DRIFT COMPENSATION - A harmonic generation/beam shaping system to generate a shaped beam having a harmonic relationship with a beam generated by a laser, including a first harmonic generation element and a second harmonic generation element arranged sequentially along an axial beam path extending between an input from the laser and an output of the harmonic generation/beam shaping system and at least two beam shaping elements located along the axial beam path. At least one of the least two beam shaping elements is located between the second harmonic generation element and the laser to transform the beam energy profile into a preferred profile to distribute the beam energy across a larger cross sectional area of at least one harmonic generation element or to reduce peaks in the energy distribution profile of the beam, or both, wherein the preferred profile may be a flat-top profile or a Bessel function profile.

2009-01-29

20090027754

PHOTONIC CRYSTAL RESONATOR, A COUPLED CAVITY WAVEGUIDE, AND A GYROSCOPE - A rotating optical resonator, a waveguide and a method of use of waveguide are disclosed. The rotating optical resonator may include at least two modes of different resonant frequencies shiftable towards each other by reducing a magnitude of rotation rate, said modes being joinable into a substantially degenerate mode by setting substantially zero rotation rate, said resonator being of an optical size smaller than five wavelengths of the substantially degenerate mode. The waveguide may include a plurality of coupled evenly degenerate split mode resonators, the split of the modes forming a stop band in a resonant band of the waveguide, the stop band of the waveguide thereby being changeable by changing an angular velocity of the waveguide while the vector of the angular velocity is non-parallel with respect to the waveguide.

2009-01-29

20090027755

Color display having layer dependent spatial resolution and related method - A color display including: a stacked plurality of color layers, each layer being selectively reflective or absorptive of light in a different portion of the human visible spectrum; wherein, the layers are each configured as a plurality of independently addressable picture elements, at least some of the picture elements in at least one of the layers are superimposed in the stack over at least some picture elements in at least one other of the layers, and a resolution of the superimposed picture elements in the at least one of the layers is different from the resolution of the superimposed picture elements in the at least one other of the layers.

2009-01-29

20090027756

Controllably dissolving spacing member and associated electrochromic device and method for manufacturing the same - An electrochromic device including a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes at least one solvent, at least one anodic material, and at least one cathodic material, wherein the first and second substrates are substantially uniformly spaced apart by a spacing member comprising a non-polymeric material which substantially dissolves upon association with the at least one solvent.

2009-01-29

20090027757

ELECTROCHROMIC DISPLAY ELEMENT AND FULL-COLOR ELECTROCHROMIC DISPLAY ELEMENT - An electrochromic display element includes a pair of counter electrodes having therebetween an electrochromic compound represented by Formula (1), wherein the electrochromic compound becomes colored when being oxidized and becomes colorless when being reduced by a driving operation of the electrodes:

Electronic Window Shading System for Houses, Transport Vehicles and the Like - There is disclosed an automatic electronic window shading (tinting) system for houses and transport vehicles such as automobiles, RV's, trains, boats and the like, to provide shading for people to protect them from exposure to harmful direct sunlight, by providing the windows of said houses and transport vehicles with display elements and light (photocell/photovoltaic) sensors. The system comprises liquid crystal, electrochromic, suspended particle device (SPD), or NanoChromics display (NCD) element attached to a part of a transparent body (such as the windows) and a liquid crystal, electrochromic, suspended particle device (SPD), or NanoChromics display (NCD) controlling semiconductor element controlling the operation of the display element.

2009-01-29

20090027760

Transflective electro-wetting display device - An exemplary transflective electro-wetting display (EWD) device includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate opposite to the upper substrate, a first polar liquid disposed between the upper and lower substrates, a second, colored, non-polar liquid disposed between the upper and lower substrates, and a reflective pattern disposed at the lower substrate. The second liquid is immiscible with the first liquid. An area of the reflective pattern covered by the second liquid varies according to an area of the lower substrate covered by the second liquid.

2009-01-29

20090027761

SHELL-TYPE ELECTROPHORETIC PARTICLE, DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING THE PARTICLE, AND METHOD THEREOF - An electrophoretic particle includes ionic liquid stored in a spherical polymer shell and a charged layer formed on an inner surface of the shell, and a display device includes the electrophoretic particle. The shell is not charged, and the charged layer in the shell is charged. Therefore, particles having different polarities from each other do not stick to each other. Since the electrophoretic particles are dispersed in air, a high response speed can be achieved, a large amount of charges can be formed by the ionic liquid and the charged layer contacting the ionic liquid, and thus, the particles can move with a low driving voltage.

2009-01-29

20090027762

ELECTRO-OSMOTIC DISPLAYS AND MATERIALS FOR MAKING THE SAME - Disclosed herein are novel electrophoretic displays and materials useful in fabricating such displays. In particular, novel encapsulated displays are disclosed. Particles encapsulated therein are dispersed within a suspending, or electrophoretic, fluid. This fluid may be a mixture of two or more fluids or may be a single fluid. The displays may further comprise particles dispersed in a suspending fluid, wherein the particles contain a liquid. In either case, the suspending fluid may have a density or refractive index substantially matched to that of the particles dispersed therein. Finally, also disclosed herein are electro-osmotic displays. These displays comprise at least one capsule containing either a cellulosic or gel-like internal phase and a liquid phase, or containing two or more immiscible fluids. Application of electric fields to any of the electrophoretic displays described herein affects an optical property of the display.

2009-01-29

20090027763

MEMS DEVICE WITH NANOWIRE STANDOFF LAYER - A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device and related methods are described. The MEMS device comprises a first member having a first surface and a second member having a second surface, the first and second surfaces being separated by a gap that is closable by a MEMS actuation force applied to at least one of the first and second members. A standoff layer is disposed on the first surface of the first member, the standoff layer providing standoff between the first and second surfaces upon a closing of the gap by the MEMS actuation force. The standoff layer comprises a plurality of nanowires that are anchored to the first surface of the first member and that extend outward therefrom.

2009-01-29

20090027764

Wavelength Converting Element - A wavelength converting element which does not generate crystal destruction and output saturation of a second harmonic due to a third harmonic generated inside the element is provided. The wavelength converting element receives a fundamental wave which is light having a wavelength (lambda), outputs the second harmonic which is light having a wavelength (lambda/2), and has a crystal including at least one element selected from a group composed of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Eu, Gd, Ho, Yb, and Lu as an additive.

2009-01-29

20090027765

WAVELENGTH CONVERTING ELEMENT, LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE, LIGHTING DEVICE, MONITORING DEVICE, AND PROJECTOR - The disclosure refers to a wavelength converting element, light source device, lighting device, monitoring device, and projector. In one example, a wavelength converting element comprises a polarization-inverted crystal including polarization-inverted layers having an inverted polarization direction and being disposed in parallel in a particular direction. The polarization-inverted layers are disposed substantially parallel with a first plane which is substantially orthogonal to the particular direction. Temperature controlling elements are configured to control a temperature of the polarization-inverted crystal, the temperature controlling elements being disposed on a second plane substantially orthogonal to the first plane.

Catadioptric imaging system, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method - A catadioptric imaging optical system of a high numerical aperture in which various aberrations are properly corrected without using a reflection surface having an aspherical shape of high order or a reciprocal optical element. The catadioptric imaging optical system forms an image of a first plane on a second plane and includes a first imaging system for forming a first intermediate image of the first plane based on light from the first plane, a second imaging system having two concave reflection mirrors for forming a second intermediate image of the first plane based on light from the first intermediate image, and a third imaging system for forming a final image of the first plane on the second plane based on light from the second intermediate image. The two concave reflection mirrors have prolate spheroidal-shaped reflection surfaces.

2009-01-29

20090027769

IMMERSION MICROSCOPE OBJECTIVE AND LASER SCANNING MICROSCOPE SYSTEM USING SAME - An immersion microscope objective formed of thirteen or fewer lens elements includes, in order from the object side, first and second lens groups of positive refractive power, a third lens group, a fourth lens group having negative refractive power with its image-side surface being concave, and a fifth lens group having positive refractive power with its object-side surface being concave. The first lens group includes, in order from the object side, a lens component that consists of a lens element of positive refractive power (when computed as being in air) and a meniscus lens element having its concave surface on the object side. Various conditions are satisfied to ensure that images of fluorescence, obtained when the immersion microscope objective is used in a laser scanning microscope that employs multiphoton excitation to observe a specimen, are bright and of high resolution. Various laser scanning microscopes are also disclosed.

PROJECTION SCREEN AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - A projection screen includes a light absorbing substrate having a plurality of alternating crests and recessed portions. A light reflecting layer is established on the light absorbing substrate such that a receding portion is established on each of the recessed portions and a conformal portion is established on each of the crests. Each of the plurality of crests has a surface at which the light absorbing substrate is exposed.

2009-01-29

20090027772

Head-Mounted Single Panel Stereoscopic Display - Disclosed is a head-mounted single panel display system that uses one or more liquid crystal switches and a polarizing beam splitter to redirect images from a single microdisplay panel to the viewer's eyes. The light emanating from the display panel is first directed, using a polarizing beam splitter, into two near-identical optical imaging systems, each forming an image in the left and right eyes. For stereoscopic (3D) operation, the light is modulated such that an image is seen in only one eye at a time. By providing time sequential stereoscopic imagery at a frame rate greater than 50Hz in each eye, flicker free, full resolution 3D can be visualized.

COMPOSITION FOR ANISOTROPIC DYESTUFF FILM, ANISOTROPIC DYESTUFF FILM AND POLARIZING ELEMENT - A composition that has excellent storage stability and excellent film-forming properties for forming films without streaks or irregularities, an anisotropic dye film that is a uniform coating film free of streaks and irregularities and without deterioration in optical properties, and a polarizing element including the anisotropic dye film are provided. This composition includes a dichroic dye, an agent having at least one function selected from the group consisting of a fungicidal function, an antimicrobial function, and a bactericidal function, and a solvent. The anisotropic dye film and the polarizing element are formed of the composition.

2009-01-29

20090027775

Multiple layer reflective tag - A reflective tag apparatus has a top layer having micro apertures therein and having a surface message therein and a second layer having a sub surface message thereon mounted over a reflective layer. The reflective layer may be retroreflective using an array of corner cubes and may be a structure that is diffractive or resonates iridescent colors and may contain coatings, dyes and pigments to provide light control.

2009-01-29

20090027776

METHOD FOR COATING AN OPTICAL COMPONENT FOR A LASER ARRANGEMENT AND RELATED OPTICAL COMPONENT - A method for coating an optical component comprises providing the optical component. The optical component has a surface formed with parallel, periodically structured surface sections each having a first flank and a second flank. The first flank and the second flank of each surface section are furthermore inclined with respect to one another, and the first flank is formed such that it is smaller than the second flank. The method furthermore comprises at least partly applying a coating to at least the first flank of each surface section. The surface coating has a metal layer and a dielectric multilayer and the metal layer is applied before the dielectric multilayer. The second flank is not coated or is coated with a layer thickness that is formed such that it is smaller than a layer thickness of the surface coating of the first flank.

2009-01-29

20090027777

OPTICAL ELEMENT - An optical element includes a transparent substrate, a first light-blocking film attached to at least one surface of the transparent substrate and having a first circular opening, and a first lens portion disposed on the at least one surface of the transparent substrate, the first lens portion being composed of ultraviolet curable resin and having a first lens-functioning surface. The first lens portion is disposed such that the first lens-functioning surface covers the first opening and overlaps an area of the first light-blocking film that surrounds the first opening.

2009-01-29

20090027778

Deformable optical element, methods of making and uses thereof - A deformable optical element includes an elastically deformable lens. Electrical contacts are directly attached to the elastically deformable lens and configured to receive an applied voltage. The electrical contacts have opposing surfaces configured to develop electrostatic forces in response to the applied voltage. The electrostatic forces deform the elastically deformable lens to create a predetermined optical effect.

2009-01-29

20090027779

ZOOM LENS AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A zoom lens is provided and includes: in order from the object side, a first lens group having a positive power and including in order from the object side, a negative lens, a reflecting member that bends an optical path by substantially 90°, and a positive lens having biconvex shape which has at least one aspherical surface; a second lens group having a negative power and including two lenses; a third lens group having a positive power; and a fourth lens group having a positive power and including in order from the object side, a cemented lens having a negative power and a positive lens having a meniscus shape which has at least one aspherical surface and a convex surface on the object side. The zoom lens is adapted to change a magnification thereof by moving the second lens group and forth lens group, and satisfies specific conditional equations.

2009-01-29

20090027780

COMPACT IMAGE TAKING LENS SYSTEM WITH A LENS-SURFACED PRISM - A compact image taking lens system with a lens-surfaced prism of the present invention comprises a prism, an aperture stop, a first lens element, a second lens element, reflecting mirror surface, and image surface, optionally an infrared cut-off filter. By introducing a lens-surfaced prism, the compact image taking lens system with a lens-surfaced prism of the present invention has many advantages over the prior arts in the field of invention, such as compactness in thickness, small number of optical elements, high performance of optical quality, enough space for optional elements such as an infrared cut-off filter and diversity in optical geometries.

2009-01-29

20090027781

PROJECTION OPTICAL SYSTEM, EXPOSURE APPARATUS, AND DEVICE FABRICATION METHOD - The present invention provides a projection optical system which projects an image on a first object plane onto a second object plane, comprising at least four optical members which are arrayed in turn from the second object plane, and made of an isotropic crystal, wherein the at least four optical members are formed by alternately arraying optical members in each of which a <1 1 1> crystal axis is oriented along a direction of an optical axis, and optical members in each of which a <1 0 0> crystal axis is oriented along the direction of the optical axis.

2009-01-29

20090027782

Process for producing coated plastic lenses, and lens holder - A process is provided whereby a photocurable coating agent is applied to a surface of a plastic lens having a central area less than 2 mm in thickness and thinner than the peripheral area, and the coating agent is cured to produce an objective coated plastic lens without any special cooling apparatus, with high productivity and without deforming the lens.

2009-01-29

20090027783

LENS POSITIONING JIG, METHOD OF ATTACHING LENS BARREL AND LENS DEVICE - It is provided that a lens positioning jig, a method of attaching lens barrel, and a lens device. A lens holding portion is inserted through a barrel insertion hole, and then a housing holding portion allows a barrel attachment portion to be thereby positioned and held in a lens housing. When an air pump is operated, a lens holding portion sucks and holds a convergent lens held in a second lens barrel and then positioned with respect to the barrel attachment portion. In addition, the second lens barrel is held in the lens housing so that the second flange does not come in contact with barrel attachment groove. Subsequently, an adhesive is filled into a gap formed between the second flange and the barrel attachment groove to thereby fix the second lens barrel thereto.

POSITION DETECTING DEVICE CAPABLE OF IMPROVING DETECTION ACCURACY - A position detecting device includes an optical position detecting element and a position information portion which are disposed so as to be opposed to each other. The position information portion has a binary pattern where a high light efficient portion and a low light efficient portion are alternately repeated when the movable portion moves in a predetermined direction. The position detecting device includes a loose position detecting portion for detecting a loose position of the movable portion by counting a pulse signal obtained by the optical position detecting element, a close position detecting portion for detecting a close position of the movable portion by counting pulse number of driving pulses which are applied to an electromechanical transducer from a position where the loose position detection is carried out, and a combining arrangement for combining the loose position with the close position to calculate a current position of the movable portion.

2009-01-29

20090027786

RETRACTABLE LENS AND SLIDABLE LENS RETRACTING DEVICE THEREOF - A slidable lens retracting device is provided for retracting a lens system that include lens group units all positioned on a common optical axis when the lens system is in an operational state. At least one lens group unit is retracted from the on-axis position on the optical axis to an off-axis space radially off the optical axis by the slidable lens retracting device when the lens system is moved to a retracted state. The slidable lens retracting device includes slides mounted to the lens (group unit and fixed support members forming inclined surfaces with which the slides are engageable. The control tracks receive the slides therein and are movable along the optical axis to bring the lens system to the retracted position to cause the slides to engage and slide along the inclined surfaces and thus moving the lens group unit to the off-axis space.

2009-01-29

20090027787

VEHICLE MIRROR - A mirror assembly for an articulated vehicle incorporates an image sensor which detects part of the trailer e.g. the end of the trailer, so that as the vehicle turns the image sensor maintains the image in its field of view and the mirror is automatically adjusted to maintain the driver's view of the part of the trailer in the mirror.

2009-01-29

20090027788

Thin Nearly Wireless Adaptive Optical Device - A thin nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.

2009-01-29

20090027789

TELESCOPE MULTIPLE DISCRETE SEGMENT PRIMARY MIRROR - A method and apparatus is configured for reflecting a beam of light incident at a primary mirror by rotating a first mirror segment to align a selected facet of the mirror segment to be generally orthogonal to the principal axis. The first mirror segment is translated in a motion parallel to the principal axis to a first position such that the mirrored segment at a facet comprising a mirror is brought into alignment with at least one second mirrored segment to form at a facet a first parabolic mirror. The incident beam of light is then reflected by collimating the first parabolic mirror by rotation and translation of the first mirror segment to strike a first secondary element.

2009-01-29

20090027790

NEWTONIAN TELESCOPE SECONDARY MIRROR MOUNT AND ADJUSTMENT METHOD - A Newtonian telescope secondary mirror mount which includes means for attaching a Newtonian telescope secondary mirror to the secondary mirror mount. The attachment means will define a secondary mirror plane. The mount also includes first and second means for adjusting the angular alignment of the secondary mirror plane. The first adjustment means defines a first adjustment axis and the second adjustment means defines a second adjustment axis. In all embodiments both the first and second axes of angular orientation adjustment are substantially parallel to the secondary mirror plane. Methods of adjusting the angular alignment of a Newtonian telescope secondary mirror are also disclosed.

2009-01-29

20090027791

ADJUSTABLE MIRROR DEVICE - A mirror device includes a handle portion, a connector portion, and a mirror. The handle portion has a first end and a second end having a groove. The connector portion is coupled to the handle portion and has a ball-shaped first end and a second end. The ball-shaped first end is disposed within the groove such that the connector portion may rotate with respect to the handle portion and is adjustable with respect to the second end of the handle portion such that the connector portion may be positioned vertically and perpendicularly with respect to the handle portion. The mirror is coupled to the second end of the connector portion such that the mirror may rotate in conjunction with the connector portion and may be angularly positioned with respect to the handle portion based on the angular position of the connector portion with respect to the handle portion.

2009-01-29

20090027792

Reflector for a solar energy collection system and a solar energy collection system - The present invention provides a reflector for a solar energy collection system. The reflector comprises a reflective material for receiving solar radiation and directing the received solar radiation to an absorber. The reflector also comprises a polymeric body supporting the reflective material. The polymeric body comprises a polymeric core that is sandwiched by at least one polymeric layer.

2009-01-29

20090027793

COLOR WHEEL - A color wheel includes a motor, a color filter, and an obstructing plate. The motor includes a body, a rotating disk with a rotating shaft protruding outward from the center of a side of the rotating disk. The color filter includes filter sectors colored red, green, and blue, respectively. The contacting borders of the filter sectors are adhered to each other by glue and cooperatively form a through hole. The color filter is fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft, thereby the color filter can rotate together with the rotating shaft. Each of the filter sectors defines an extending segment extending from an edge thereof near the center of the color filter cooperatively forming a mounting ring. The obstructing plate defines an opening in the middle thereof to fixedly receive the mounting ring therein.

2009-01-29

20090027794

LIGHT TUNNEL AND PROJECTOR ILLUMINATION SYSTEM HAVING SAME - A projector light tunnel comprising an elongated transparent solid body having a light incident surface for facing toward a light source, a light emitting surface at an opposite side of the elongated transparent solid body to the light incident surface, for uniformly standardizing intensity distribution of light emitted from the light source, the light incident surface being configured as a curved surface.

2009-01-29

20090027795

SECURE MODULE RECORDER SYSTEM AND METHOD - Embodiments of a secure module recorder system and method for securing recording and storing of information is provided. The system may include at least one secure module and a docking station having at least one receptacle for holding one of the secure modules. The secure module may include a tamper-resistant case, an input port for receiving an analog signal, a recording circuit for converting the analog signal into digitally formatted data, a memory device for storing the digitally formatted data, a playback circuit for reading the digitally formatted data from the memory device and converting the digitally formatted data into an analog playback signal, and an output port for transmitting the analog playback signal. The docking station may further include a first interface for receiving the analog signal from an external device and a second interface disposed within the receptacle for interfacing with the input port of the secure module.

2009-01-29

20090027796

INFORMATION RECORDING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - According to one embodiment, an information recording device comprises, when writing asynchronous data not recorded in a disk-like recording medium among data recorded in a non-volatile memory by a control module, a setting module is configured to place priority order of writing the asynchronous data to the disk-like recording medium in response to a state of each recording area with the asynchronous data of the non-volatile memory recorded therein.

2009-01-29

20090027797

Data Storage And Manipulation - A data storage device comprises: a data member comprising means for storing data on a surface thereof; and a data retrieval member. The data retrieval member comprises: a plurality of heads for reading data from the data member; and a plurality of storage buffers each arranged to store data read from one of more of said heads. The retrieval member is arranged so as to output the contents of a plurality of said storage buffers sequentially. This allows fast and efficient reading of the data stored.

2009-01-29

20090027798

IMPACT PROTECTION FOR A RETRACTABLE CONTROL OBJECT - Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to protecting a device from damage due to an impact event at the conclusion of a free fall condition through the use of a biasing signal that maintains a retention force until the impact event is completed.

2009-01-29

20090027799

DISK DRIVE REFRESHING ZONES IN SEGMENTS TO SUSTAIN TARGET THROUGHPUT OF HOST COMMANDS - A disk drive is disclosed including a disk comprising a plurality of refresh zones, and a head actuated over the disk. The disk drive further comprises control circuitry for receiving access commands from a host. The control circuitry refreshes a refresh zone in a plurality of segments with an interval between each segment, and processes at least one of the access commands during the interval between at least two of the segments, wherein a size of each segment and the interval ensures an average throughput of access commands received from the host does not fall below a first threshold.

2009-01-29

20090027800

STORAGE APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT - According to an aspect of an embodiment, a storage apparatus includes a judgment unit which judges the clearance between a head and a recording medium. A mode switcher switches from a regular write mode in which data is written on the medium to a write verification mode in which error is checked by reading the data immediately after writing on the medium, where the judgment unit detects a clearance change. A heater control value adjustor corrects for errors detected in the write verification mode by changing a prescribed heater control value for the heater by executing write verifications. An access processor controls the clearance between the head and the medium by heating the head according to the adjusted heater control value, to compensate for operational variables such as low atmospheric pressure.

MAGNETIC RECORDING APPARATUS - Provided is a magnetic recording apparatus including a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic recording position patterned of a magnetic substance and a read head reading information from the magnetic recording medium, wherein the magnetic recording medium includes: a data area having the magnetic recording position patterned including a plurality of data tracks; and a servo area including a servo burst for tracking the data tracks, wherein the servo burst includes a plurality of bursts deviating from one another in a downtrack direction, and a width of each of the bursts is equal to or greater than a width of the read head and narrower than twice the width of the read head. According to this structure, although data is reproduced using a read head having a greater width than a width of each of data tracks, a linear section in which an output voltage is reduced depending on a size of an off-track is formed. As a result, a dead zone can be removed.

2009-01-29

20090027803

High Areal Density Tape Head - A tape head designed for transducing data on a magnetic recording tape that is subject to tape dimensional changes. The tape head includes two or more arrays of transducer elements having different transducer spacing distances corresponding to different track spacing distances to be transduced. One of the transducer arrays may be used for transducing the tape under nominal tape track spacing conditions. Another transducer array may be used for transducing the tape when the tape track spacing is reduced due to the tape shrinkage. Still another transducer array may be used for transducing the tape when the tape track spacing is enlarged due to tape expansion.

2009-01-29

20090027804

CARTRIDGE CARRYING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE CARRYING METHOD - To provide a magnetic tape loader with which unconsidered slippage does not occur while a cartridge is inserted/ejected and carried, whose configuration is simple, and capable of being produced at a low cost. While a projection on an endless belt wrapped around pulleys is engaged with a notch section formed in a front end face of the cartridge in a rack, wherein the pulleys are provided within a cartridge housing container along a cartridge inserting/ejecting direction with having an interval in between, the pulleys and the endless belt are driven to rotate so that the projection slides and the cartridge is pulled out from the rack or a magnetic tape drive. Then the cartridge is housed in the cartridge housing container. The pulley and the endless belt are driven to rotate inversely so that the projection slides to insert the cartridge from the cartridge housing container into the rack or the magnetic tape drive.

2009-01-29

20090027805

Method and System for Measuring Spacing in a Perpendicular Magnetic Recording - PMR spacing is measured by writing a pattern on a magnetic storage layer in non-return-to-zero notation, reading the pattern from the magnetic storage layer, analyzing a first harmonic component of the pattern that has a first amplitude, analyzing a second harmonic component of the pattern that has a second amplitude, measuring a ratio between the first and the second amplitudes of the first and second harmonic components, and determining a first spacing based on the ratio. In another embodiment, spacing is measured by analyzing a third harmonic component on the magnetic storage layer that has a third amplitude, measuring a difference in the amplitudes of the second and the third harmonic components while varying the first spacing and taking the ratio of the difference of the two each harmonic components.

2009-01-29

20090027806

CLEANING SYSTEM FOR TAPE HEAD AND TAPE DRIVE SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING SAME - A tape drive system according to one embodiment includes a tape head; a guide mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the head; and a cleaning device for cleaning the head, wherein, while the tape is adjacent the head, a relative spacing between the tape and the head is created before the cleaning device cleans the head, wherein the cleaning device does not contact the tape during cleaning of the head. Other systems and methods are also presented.

2009-01-29

20090027807

Head gimbal assembly having balanced weight, disk drive unit with the same and manufacturing method thereof - A HGA includes a load beam having a dimple formed thereon; a flexure including a suspension tongue and a support plate connected with the suspension tongue; and a slider having a leading edge and trailing edge opposite to the leading edge. The slider is mounted on the flexure such that the slider is supported by the dimple at the center of the slider. The leading edge is attached on the suspension tongue and trailing edge is attached on the support plate. A weight-balance structure is formed on the suspension tongue of the flexure to balance the weight of the HGA between a portion from the trailing edge to the slider center and another portion from the leading edge to the slider center. The invention also discloses various methods of manufacturing HGA with the balanced weight.

2009-01-29

20090027808

Performance test method of head gimbal assembly with precise positioning micro-actuator - A method of testing a performance of a HGA including a magnetic head and a micro-actuator for precisely positioning the magnetic head with respect to a magnetic medium is disclosed. The key of the method is to obtain three track center values under conditions of no driving the micro-actuator, driving the micro-actuator in a positive direction using an operating DC voltage, and driving the micro-actuator in a negative direction using the operating DC voltage respectively, and finally do calculation of the three track center values, thus successfully obtains the displacement performance of the micro-actuator in a simple way. The method is capable of testing the HGA's performance under lower operating voltage by moving the slider by a predetermined distance toward an off-track direction, which accordingly assists to identify three track center values and thereby ensures the method an accurate measurement.

2009-01-29

20090027809

THIN-FILM MAGNETIC HEAD COMPRISING SHIELD/MAGNETIC-POLE LAYER HAVING SURFACE WITHOUT RIGHT NOR SHARP ANGLE - Provided is a thin-film magnetic head in which the concentration of magnetic flux in the shield layer and the magnetic pole layer is suppressed. The thin-film magnetic head comprises a plurality of magnetic layers that have front surfaces reaching a head end surface on the ABS side. Further in this head, at least one of the plurality of magnetic layers has a shape in which: each of edges corresponding to both side surfaces extends so as to spread obliquely rearward with each other from an end of a straight edge in a track width direction corresponding to the front surface; and the front surface reaching the head end surface has a shape in which upper and lower corner portions in each of both end portions in the track width direction form obtuse angles or rounded shapes.

2009-01-29

20090027810

High performance MTJ element for STT-RAM and method for making the same - We describe the structure and method of forming a STT-MTJ MRAM cell that utilizes transfer of spin angular momentum as a mechanism for changing the magnetic moment direction of a free layer. The device includes an IrMn pinning layer, a SyAP pinned layer, a naturally oxidized, crystalline MgO tunneling barrier layer that is formed on an Ar-ion plasma smoothed surface of the pinned layer and, in one embodiment, a free layer that comprises an amorphous layer of Co

2009-01-29

20090027811

Spin transfer MRAM device with reduced coefficient of MTJ resistance variation - We describe the manufacturing process for and structure of a CPP MTJ MRAM unit cell that utilizes transfer of spin angular momentum as a mechanism for changing the magnetic moment direction of a free layer. The cell is formed of a vertically or horizontally series connected sequence of N sub-cells, each sub-cell being an MTJ element. A statistical population of such multiple sub-cell unit cells has a variation of resistance that is less by a factor of N

2009-01-29

20090027812

MAGNETIC SIGNAL REPRODUCTION SYSTEM AND MAGNETIC SIGNAL REPRODUCTION METHOD - The magnetic signal reproduction system comprises a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder on a nonmagnetic support and a reproduction head, wherein a number of protrusions equal to or greater than 10 nm in height on the magnetic layer surface, as measured by an atomic force microscope, ranges from 50 to 2500/10,000 μm